Illinois College senior Abigail Dodd has been awarded a 2013 Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics (ICTM) Scholarship.

“I have to say I'm still in shock that I got this scholarship,” Dodd said. “Each year the ICTM gives out scholarships to between two and five students from the state of Illinois, so it is a huge honor to be one of a select few who earn this scholarship.”

The Scholarship will be formally awarded to Dodd at a reception during the ICTM Annual Conference on October 18 in Peoria. The actual number of award recipients depends on the amount of money raised each year. Each scholarship is worth $1,500 and is to defray educational expenses occurred while earning a teaching license. As part of the process to apply for the scholarship, Dodd had to complete two essays, write a complete lesson plan, have two letters of recommendation and have a GPA of at least 3.00 out of 4.00.

Todd Oberg, professor of mathematics and director of teacher preparation, recommended Dodd wholeheartedly for the scholarship. “I believe that Abby will successfully combine the strong mathematical background that she is constructing, her natural talent for working with others, and her general disposition into the makings of an excellent teacher, but also an excellent and talented teacher of mathematics. She is eminently deserving of the ICTM Scholarship.”

Only candidates pursuing licensure in secondary mathematics or elementary education with a math endorsement are considered for the scholarship. The committee looks for candidates who they believe will be excellent math teachers in the future and have the potential to be a leader in future development of mathematics curriculum.

Illinois College is no stranger to this award. According to Oberg, the college has seen six of its students awarded the ICTM Scholarship in the past nine years.

“For a school the size of IC to have six scholarship winners over the last nine years says a lot about the quality of the math program for preparing pre-service teachers to teach math,” Oberg said.